Most everything about Tanque Verde's baseball game against St.
David on Wednesday afternoon was normal. In the middle of the
normal-sized crow… Read more

The lifestyle of a three-sport athlete is demanding, grueling
and time-consuming, but for Marana High School's Kord Catt, he
doesn't know any other lifestyle.

The senior has lettered in four sports for the Tigers, and
according to volleyball coach and assistant football coach
Alexander Ruff, Catt's mentality is what helps him get through the
difficulty of consistently being on a sports team.

Catt said playing multiple sports has always been a part of his
life, and he credits his work ethic to his mother, Tammy
Foster.

"That's just how I was raised. That just, if you're doing
something, you go all out," Catt said. "You don't quit.

"She's always been there teaching me how to do it."

Throughout his high school career, Catt has had to deal with a
rigorous training schedule, practices every day, school, meets and
other events throughout the week.

Catt is currently the setter for the Marana Tigers boys
volleyball team, and Ruff said those practices alone run until 6
p.m. nightly, and matches can last until 8:30 p.m.

His dedication has included the forfeiting of winter and spring
breaks to dedicate to training and the team.

The senior played football, basketball and volleyball for the
Tigers until his junior year when he switched to soccer during the
winter sports season.

"It was a good change," said Catt of switching to soccer. "I
wasn't having fun anymore" with basketball.

Because he plays three sports, Catt comes into each season with
an advantage - he's already conditioned. He said that is what
allows him to balance everything and helps him make an impact on
every team he's on.

Although Catt said all the work was worth the time, he said
sometimes the effort was overwhelming.

"There's times where both physically and mentally - like
physically I come home, and then I'm just totally beat sometimes,
especially after a long week."

But the senior hasn't let balancing his schedule affect his
play. He was an honorable mention for the Star's All-Southern
Arizona All-Stars as a receiver and was among the leading scorers
on the soccer team in the winter.

Although his football and soccer teams missed the playoffs, the
Marana volleyball team is 6-4 in power-ranking games, sitting at
No. 6 and is looking to make a run to the playoffs.

For Catt, a postseason appearance wouldn't just make up for the
way the other team's seasons ended; it would be a final reward for
a student athlete who has given a lot to Marana.

"It's one of those things where even he wants to leave that
legacy and leave on a high note," Ruff said. "This is a way for him
to have some redemption where he gets to end them on a winning note
and leave high school with a victory."

Catt said he probably wouldn't pursue collegiate athletics. He
is still deciding between Brigham Young University and the
University of Arizona and said that he would "settle down" and
focus on academics.

Copyright 2015 Arizona Daily Star. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.